Korean Baby Names: 75+ Beautiful K-Names With Meanings
Korean Baby Names: 75+ Beautiful K-Names With Meanings
The K-Wave in Names
Something remarkable has happened in global culture: Korea is everywhere. K-pop groups sell out stadiums worldwide. K-dramas have millions of non-Korean fans binge-watching. Korean skincare routines have gone mainstream. And quietly, Korean names have started appearing on birth certificates far from Seoul.
Korean names have a distinctive music. They sound different from Chinese names (which share some character roots) and Japanese names (which share some sounds). There's something clean and crisp about Korean phonetics—clear syllables, soft consonants, melodic rises and falls. Names like Minjun, Soyeon, and Jihoon have a modern elegance that transcends their origin.
My name is Kim—one of the most common Korean surnames, carried by roughly 10 million Koreans. Growing up Korean-American, I watched Korean names go from exotic to trendy. Now non-Korean parents ask me about naming their children Jiyun or Taemin. The world has caught up.
Whether you're honoring Korean heritage or simply love the sound of Korean names, this guide explores naming traditions from a culture whose global influence is still rising.
How Korean Names Work
Korean naming blends Confucian tradition with modern creativity.
The Structure
Korean names have a one-syllable surname followed by a two-syllable given name. Kim Minjun: Kim is the family name, Minjun is the given name. Unlike Chinese naming where surname comes first in all contexts, Korean names may be reversed in Western contexts (Minjun Kim).
Hanja (Chinese Characters)
Traditional Korean given names are based on hanja—Chinese characters adapted to Korean. Each syllable corresponds to a character with meaning. 'Min' might mean 'clever' (敏) or 'people' (民); 'Jun' might mean 'talented' (俊) or 'army' (軍). Parents choose specific characters to craft meanings.
Pure Korean Names
Modern parents increasingly choose 'pure Korean' names—words from the Korean language rather than Chinese-derived characters. Names like Haneul (sky), Bom (spring), or Sarang (love) use native Korean words. These feel modern and distinctly Korean.
Generational Syllables
Traditional families assign a 'dollimja'—a shared syllable for all children in a generation. If the generation syllable is 'Sung,' all siblings might be named Sung-min, Sung-hyun, Sung-jin. This practice is declining but still common.
The Surname Concentration
Korean surnames are highly concentrated: Kim, Lee (Yi), Park (Pak), Choi, and Jung account for over half the population. This makes given names especially important for distinction.
Korean Girl Names
Korean girl names often invoke beauty, virtue, and nature.
Popular Korean Girl Names
- Jiyeon (지연) (jee-yuhn) - 'Wisdom' + 'beauty.' Elegant meaning.
- Soyeon (소연) (so-yuhn) - 'Pure' + 'beautiful.' Graceful.
- Minji (민지) (min-jee) - 'Clever' + 'wisdom.' Intellectual.
- Yuna (유나) (yoo-nah) - 'To remain.' Gentle sound.
- Subin (수빈) (soo-bin) - 'Excellent' + 'refined.' Quality.
- Hyejin (혜진) (hye-jin) - 'Bright' + 'precious.' Shining treasure.
- Eunji (은지) (eun-jee) - 'Silver' + 'wisdom.' Precious intellect.
- Jiwon (지원) (jee-won) - 'Wisdom' + 'origin.' Foundation.
- Seoyeon (서연) (suh-yuhn) - 'Auspicious' + 'beautiful.' Lucky beauty.
- Hayoung (하영) (hah-young) - 'Summer' + 'flower.' Seasonal beauty.
- Yerin (예린) (ye-rin) - 'Ceremony' + 'jewel.' Elegant gem.
- Chaeyoung (채영) (chae-young) - 'Colorful' + 'flower.' Vibrant bloom.
- Nayeon (나연) (nah-yuhn) - 'Grace' + 'lotus.' Graceful flower.
- Dahyun (다현) (dah-hyuhn) - 'Much' + 'virtuous.' Great virtue.
- Soojin (수진) (soo-jin) - 'Excellence' + 'precious.' Excellent treasure.
Pure Korean Girl Names
- Haneul (하늘) - 'Sky.' Modern and natural.
- Bom (봄) - 'Spring.' Fresh and seasonal.
- Areum (아름) - 'Beautiful.' Direct meaning.
- Sarang (사랑) - 'Love.' Universal emotion.
- Byul (별) - 'Star.' Celestial.
- Nari (나리) - 'Lily.' Flower name.
- Seulgi (슬기) - 'Wisdom.' Pure Korean word.
- Iseul (이슬) - 'Dew.' Nature.
Korean Boy Names
Korean boy names invoke strength, virtue, and aspiration.
Popular Korean Boy Names
- Minjun (민준) (min-joon) - 'Clever' + 'talented.' Top name in Korea.
- Jihoon (지훈) (jee-hoon) - 'Wisdom' + 'merit.' Wise achievement.
- Seojun (서준) (suh-joon) - 'Auspicious' + 'talented.' Lucky talent.
- Jiwoo (지우) (jee-woo) - 'Wisdom' + 'universe.' Cosmic wisdom.
- Hyunwoo (현우) (hyuhn-woo) - 'Virtuous' + 'universe.' Grand virtue.
- Taehyung (태형) (tae-hyung) - 'Great' + 'shape.' Grand form.
- Junwoo (준우) (joon-woo) - 'Talented' + 'universe.' Talented cosmos.
- Dongwon (동원) (dong-won) - 'East' + 'origin.' Eastern source.
- Jaehyun (재현) (jae-hyuhn) - 'Talent' + 'virtuous.' Talented virtue.
- Sungmin (성민) (sung-min) - 'Accomplished' + 'people.' Achieving for people.
- Youngho (영호) (young-ho) - 'Prosperous' + 'tiger.' Flourishing strength.
- Woojin (우진) (woo-jin) - 'Universe' + 'precious.' Cosmic treasure.
- Junho (준호) (joon-ho) - 'Talented' + 'tiger.' Skilled strength.
- Jimin (지민) (jee-min) - 'Wisdom' + 'people.' Wise leader.
- Namjoon (남준) (nahm-joon) - 'South' + 'talented.' Southern talent.
Pure Korean Boy Names
- Haneul - 'Sky.' Works for both genders.
- Baram (바람) - 'Wind.' Freedom.
- Saebyeok (새벽) - 'Dawn.' New beginning.
- Duri (두리) - 'Two,' implying 'together.' Unity.
- Uri (우리) - 'We, our.' Community.
- Chada (차다) - 'Full.' Completeness.
Names From K-Pop and K-Drama
Korean entertainment has made certain names internationally famous.
K-Pop Star Names
- Jimin - BTS member. 'Wisdom' + 'people.'
- Taehyung - BTS V. 'Great' + 'shape.'
- Namjoon - BTS RM. 'South' + 'talented.'
- Jungkook - BTS member. 'Country' + 'pillar.'
- Seokjin - BTS Jin. 'Stone' + 'precious.'
- Yoongi - BTS Suga. 'Gentle' + 'spirit.'
- Hoseok - BTS J-Hope. 'Tiger' + 'stone.'
- Nayeon - TWICE member. 'Grace' + 'lotus.'
- Chaeyoung - TWICE member. 'Colorful' + 'flower.'
- Dahyun - TWICE member. 'Much' + 'virtuous.'
- Jennie - BLACKPINK member. English-style name.
- Jisoo - BLACKPINK member. 'Wisdom' + 'excellence.'
- Rosé - BLACKPINK member. French-style name (Korean name: Chaeyoung).
K-Drama Character Names
Popular K-drama characters have boosted certain names:
- Junwan, Ikjun, Songhwa - Hospital Playlist characters
- Saebyeok - Squid Game character. 'Dawn.'
- Gong Yoo - Actor whose name became trendy.
Stage Names vs. Birth Names
Many K-pop stars use stage names (often single names or English names) while having different birth names. If you love a star's name, research whether it's their given name or a stage persona.
Traditional vs. Modern Names
Korean naming is evolving rapidly.
Traditional Hanja Names
Traditional names use Chinese characters (hanja) with deep meanings. Parents might consult fortune tellers, consider family naming patterns, and choose characters carefully. Characters are registered with the government—not every character is approved for names.
Examples: Minjun, Jihoon, Eunji—each syllable has a specific character and meaning.
Pure Korean (Sunuri) Names
The 'pure Korean name' movement uses native Korean words rather than Chinese-derived characters. These names feel modern and distinctly Korean rather than pan-East Asian.
Examples: Haneul (sky), Bom (spring), Sarang (love), Seulgi (wisdom).
International-Style Names
Some Korean parents choose names that work internationally:
- Korean names that sound like English names (Yuna, Mina, Eugene)
- English names with Korean middle names
- Hybrid names that bridge both languages
Naming Trends Now
Currently popular in Korea:
- Three-syllable names declining; two-syllable names rising
- Softer, gentler sounds preferred over harder traditional sounds
- Gender-neutral names increasing
- Pure Korean names gaining ground over hanja
Using Korean Names Internationally
Korean names can work globally with consideration.
Names That Travel Well
- Simple sounds: Yuna, Mina, Jina, Yuri
- Easy romanization: Soo, Joon, Min, Hee
- Familiar patterns: June (from Jun), Eugene, Chris-tian (from Christo-)
Pronunciation Notes
- 'eo' sounds like 'uh' (Seojun = suh-joon)
- 'eu' sounds like 'oo' without lip rounding (Seulgi = suhl-gee)
- 'ae' sounds like 'eh' (Jae = jeh)
- Double consonants (kk, tt, pp) are stronger versions
Romanization Systems
Korean uses Revised Romanization (government standard) and McCune-Reischauer (older system). Names might be spelled differently:
- Park vs. Bak
- Lee vs. Yi vs. Rhee
- Kim vs. Gim
Most Koreans romanize their names individually rather than following strict systems.
The English Name Option
Many Koreans adopt English names for international contexts. A Korean named Minjun might go by 'Joon' or 'Justin' abroad. This dual-naming tradition offers flexibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How do Korean names differ from Chinese names?
Korean names use similar Chinese characters (hanja) but with Korean pronunciation. A character pronounced 'Ming' in Chinese might be 'Myung' in Korean. Korean also has 'pure Korean' names with no Chinese characters at all. Korean names tend to be longer (typically two-syllable given names) and have different phonetic patterns.
Q2: Do all Korean names use Chinese characters?
No. Traditional names use hanja (Chinese characters), but the 'pure Korean name' movement uses native Korean words. Modern parents choose either approach—hanja names for traditional depth, pure Korean names for modern distinctiveness.
Q3: Which Korean names work best in Western contexts?
Names with simple sounds and few syllables: Yuna, Mina, Jina, Jin, Soo, Hee. Names similar to English names: Eugene, Chris, Paul (all used in Korea). Names that K-pop has made familiar: Jimin, Nayeon.
Q4: Can non-Korean families use Korean names?
You can, but consider: without understanding hanja, you may not know the full meaning of a name. If you love Korean sounds, research the specific characters/meanings you're choosing. Korean culture is increasingly global—appreciation is generally welcomed.
Q5: Are there any naming taboos in Korean culture?
Traditionally, children weren't named after living elders—it was disrespectful. Some characters are considered unlucky or inappropriate for names. The government maintains an approved list of hanja for names—not every character can be used legally.
Names From the Next Wave
Korean culture's global rise is still accelerating. K-pop groups debut to millions of international fans. K-dramas stream worldwide. Korean beauty standards influence global fashion. And Korean names are riding this wave—no longer exotic, increasingly familiar, soon perhaps mainstream.
My surname Kim used to get mispronounced constantly. Now everyone knows how to say it, thanks to K-pop and K-drama exposure. Names that seemed foreign a generation ago now sound fresh and appealing to parents who've never been to Korea.
Whether you're connecting to Korean heritage or simply drawn to the clean elegance of Korean sounds, you're choosing names from a culture whose influence is still growing. Your child's Korean name won't be unusual—it will be ahead of the curve.
Find your Korean name on SoulSeed, where you can explore hanja meanings, pure Korean options, and discover names from one of the world's most dynamic cultures.
